Paula Byrne Quartet
featuring Paula Byrne, Vocals
Randy Porter, Piano
Bill Athens, Bass
Jason Palmer, Drums
@ Wilf's Restaurant & Bar
800 NW 6th Ave (@ Union Station)
Portland, Oregon USA
7:00 - 10:00 pm
$10 cover
Wilf's is an gorgeous space with great acoustics. Ladies, put on your silk dress and stilettos. Gentlemen, shine your shoes and join me for a night of elegance.
www.PaulaByrneMusic.com
Paula was an Oracle software developer in the corporate high-tech field for 20 years. She left that career in 2005 to devote herself full-time to her soul-work in assisting people to remember and reconnect to the body as a source of wisdom, pleasure and joy in the present moment.
Randy Porter has performed with many jazz greats, including Freddy Hubbard, Art Farmer, and Benny Golson. He has also performed with the Charles McPherson Quartet throughout the US and in France, Italy, Greece, and China. The Charles McPherson Quartet has re-created the music from the classic recording Charlie Parker with Strings, performing with many orchestras nationwide. Porter has also toured with Diane Schuur and Bobby Caldwell, conducting the Jazz Orchestra for their “Sing in Swing” tour.
Bill Athens is an accomplished performer on both double bass and electric bass, having worked as a professional musician for over 15 years in the Pacific Northwest. He studied with Ken Baldwin (Oregon Symphony), Glen Moore (Oregon, The Band), and Dan Schulte (Jazz Bassist). Bill is a music graduate ofÊPortland State University. He has performed in a diverse range of genres, from Classical and Jazz to Rock and studio recording.
Bill has performed Internationally with Blues legend Earl Thomas and with Jazz power trio Trio Subtonic. He has performed with the Rose City Chamber Orchestra, the Tacoma Symphony, Bel Canto Northwest, and as a soloist with The Oregon Sinfonietta debuting a new work by local composer Don Appert. He performed with local Jazz luminaries such as: Mel Brown, Nancy King, Shirley Nanette, and Dan Balmer. as well international Jazz artists: Ben Wendell, Seamus Blake, Byron Stripling, Dominique Eade, and Dave Pietro. He has been a long time music instructor, teaching at Clark Community College, George Fox University, and The Great Basin Jazz Camp.
Drummer Jason Palmer is a percussionist and educator who is active throughout Oregon, the United States, and internationally. His performances include appearances at St. Peter's Church and the Knitting Factory in New York, the Rochester Jazz Festival, the High Sierra Music Festival, The Sitka Jazz Festival, and Jazz Festival Calgary. Regionally, he has performed at The Waterfront Blues Festival, the Cathedral Park Jazz Festival, the Portland Jazz Festival, and the Oregon Festival of American Music.
Since 1995, Jason has performed and recorded with such artists as Danilo Perez, John Clayton, Ben Monder, Ron Miles, Dave Frishberg, Bucky Pizzarelli, John Zorn, Steve Wilson, Lizz Wright, Sheryl Bailey, Chuck Redd, Dick Hyman, Ken Peplowski, Randy Porter, and George Colligan. His recordings have been reviewed in Cadence, All About Jazz, and the All Music Guide.
He attended the University of Oregon, where he received both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree in Music. As a student, Jason had the opportunity to perform in a variety of student ensembles as well as with guest artists such as Nancy King, Bobby Shew, John Hollenbeck, and Gary Versace. His pop and rock music experience includes work with Allen Toussaint, Mason Williams, Sonny Turner of the Coasters, Ruth Brown, and Satin Love Orchestra.
Active in education, Jason is currently the Department Chair of Music, Dance, and Theater at Portland Community College's Rock Creek Campus in Oregon. Recently, he has also taught at Western Oregon University, Umpqua Community College, and Lane Community College.